A Express or Retail Vista can be installed on any one computer at a time for as many times as you like. A OEM Vista may only be able to be installed on the exact same computer as many times as you like. The product key number for the Vista 32 bit version is the same one for it's 64 bit version. You can only have the Product Key activated on one computer and version of 32 bit or 64 bit Vista at a time.

Microsoft no longer provides support for preinstalled OEM (recovery) copies of Vista. If you have one of these, then you must contact the OEM, instead of Microsoft in this tutorial, to activate your OEM Vista. OEM contact information should be included in the documentation that came with your computer or OEM Vista installation CD/DVD package.

A OEM (retail) version Vista installation DVD that is bought separately and did not come preinstalled on a OEM computer is still supported by Microsoft using the method in this tutorial below.

You only have 30 days of trial period to activate Vista, 3 days if you checked the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online while installing Vista. If you let the trial period expire, you will be placed into a Reduced Functionality Mode until you activate Vista. When you activate Vista, the product key number used will be tied to that computer. If you make significant changes to the computer, like a new motherboard, you will be required to do a Phone Activation. If you want to use it on another computer, then you must uninstall it from the other computer first and do a Phone Activation on the new computer. This is to verify that you are using the product key on only one computer.

There has been a update for this through Vista's Windows Update to help with frequent prompting to activate Vista. If this applies to you, be sure to download the correct 32/64 bit version for your Vista.

5.A local phone number should apear with a set of numbers generated by Windows and displayed on your screen under Step 2: . (See screenshot below)​

NOTE:There will be sets of numbers under the 1 to 9. I just removed them here for obvious reasons. ​

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6. Call the activation phone number selected.​

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7. At first, the activation line will be automated, so you will be asked to enter or speak the numbers (Step 2 in screenshot below step 10) displayed on your screen into the phone.​

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8. If Automated Service is Successful ​

NOTE:Usually this is not always successful.​

A) The automated service will issue you a set of Confirmation ID numbers.​

NOTE:Have a pen and paper handy to write these numbers down.​

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B) Go to step 10.​

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9. If Automated Service is Unsuccessful​

A) If the activation service informs you that it was unsuccessful and cannot help you with activation, then STAY ON THE LINE and your call will be transferred to an activation operator who will assist you in activating your copy of Vista. The operator will give you the set of Confirmation ID numbers if they agree your copy of Vista is legitimate.​

NOTE:Just explain to the operator your situation and what you did to require activation. (EX: hardware upgrade, installed Vista on a new computer after uninstalling it from the old one, etc...)​

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10. Type in the set of Confirmarion ID numbers given to you into the Step 3: area to be able to activate Vista. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE:You will get these numbers from the phone automated system or operator after they have confirmed the numbers you gave them in step 7 above.​

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NOTE:The numbers in Step 2 of this screenshot will be there for you to use in step 5 above. I have just cleared them from this screenshot for obvious reasons. ​

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11. When you get the Activation was successful window, click on Close to finish. (See screenshot below)​

I'm not sure where you are getting call for assistance from. After you click on Activate Windows online now, you would click on Use the automated phone system to activate to get the phone number. Be sure you are doing STEP TWO for a phone activation.

Did you use the manual way with Option Two for the slui.exe 4 file. If you did, and this is the options you got, then you will need to contact HP to let them know you need help activating Vista with the OEM product key number that you have provided by them.

Hmm... the slui.exe 4 showed exactly the same options.
But... In past, I had to reactivate Vista couple of times, and I could use the phone for this. I have 4 days left; I guess I'll just waut for the reduced mode to kick in, then it maybe will show the phone options.

I have noticed that Microsoft has been stopping support for OEM versions where they use to help with phone activation before. I would contact HP before you get in reduced functionality mode to see what they say. They should be able to help you with their OEM activation as per their requirement and agreement with Microsoft.

I have noticed that Microsoft has been stopping support for OEM versions where they use to help with phone activation before. I would contact HP before you get in reduced functionality mode to see what they say. They should be able to help you with their OEM activation as per their requirement and agreement with Microsoft.

I hope it was okay to dredge up this old thread and ask for further clarification. And I hope someone will see it and respond.

So I have a Dell XPS430 - about 4 years old with Windows Vista 64bit installed.
As near as I can tell the hard drive died and I'm buying a new hard drive tomorrow.

I have a Vista Home Premium 64bit SP1 Dell OS "reinstallation DVD".

Do I understand correctly that when I install my new hard drive on my XP430 I will not be able to install Vista because it is a new hard drive, even though it's the same computer?

Or am I to understand that I CAN do this, but I will have to call Dell and Dell WILL give me a new license key for the Vista install? And this disk is all I'll need to install it once I have that license key?

Sorry for the probably dumb questions but a) this is the first time I've had a hard drive die, ever; b) this is the first time I've had to install Windows and c) I have read a bunch of different threads on this subject and some seem to say I CAN install my OEM(?) Vista on my new hard drive/same computer and some say I cannot. Some say call MS and here you say call the computer manufacturer.

And d) this is a very old thread so maybe things have changed.

Can you clarify this for me? or refer me to another thread? (I did search the forum but did not find a thread other than this about this particular situation.)

You will still be able to install and activate on a new hard drive with the same product key number on the COA sticker. It's usually only when you replace the motherboard is when you run into activation issues since an OEM product key is permanently tied to the motherboard of the computer it was first activated on.

When I install the new hard drive, someone told me to add the drivers from the Dell page re my XP430 one by one with system drivers first.

However, I plan to restore the programs etc of the broken drive through an imageI took of it about a year ago.

So in that case, I do NOT have to add drivers at all, right? or do I?
Wouldn't the drivers be part of the image?
I'm not really sure as I have never used an image to restore before. (Created by a Paragon program.)

I would just add the software for Paragon through my new Windows install then restore the image, right? Or do I have to add the drivers first?

You will still be able to install and activate on a new hard drive with the same product key number on the COA sticker. It's usually only when you replace the motherboard is when you run into activation issues since an OEM product key is permanently tied to the motherboard of the computer it was first activated on.